RELATIONSHIP OF INTERLEUKIN I AND INTERLEUKIN 8 IN MENINGITIS

Abstract

This study was conducted on 20 patients with acute bacterial meningitis {mean age 7.3±4.76 years), 20 patients with aseptic meningitis {mean age 9.25±3.17 years) and IO healthy control children (mean age 9.4±3.89 years). Complete clinical examination was perfonned. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture within the first 24 hrs of onset of the symptoms and subjected to physical, chemical, cytological and bacteriological examinations, blood examination for total and differential white cell count. Also IL-6, IL-8 levels were estimated in CSF and serum by ELISA. The CSF IL-6, IL-8 in patients with bacterial meningitis were significantly higher than those with aseptic meningitis and the control groups. CSF IL-6, IL-8 in patients with aseptic meningitis were also significantly higher than those in the control group. These results suggest that IL-6, IL-8 are important mediators in the meningeal inflammatory process in patients with meningitis. The levels of these mediators are good indicators for the extent of the meningeal inflammation.